Daily GK update (14th July, 2016)

1. Operation ‘Sankat Mochan’ launched to evacuate Indian citizens from South Sudan

i. The Union Government has launched ‘Operation Sankat Mochan’ to evacuate the Indians from South Sudan.

ii. Two C17 aircraft of Indian Air Force left for Juba with Minister of State for External Affair VK Singh onboard.

iii. South Sudan has been hit by violence which has claimed hundreds of lives till now. The conflict is because of clashes between government troops and forces loyal to Vice President Riek Machar. 

2. Ashok Patnaik appointed new National Intelligence Grid chief

i. Senior IPS officer Ashok Patnaik was appointed CEO of the National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID). 

ii. One of the most ambitious intelligence projects that failed to take off during United Progressive Alliance (UPA) rule. 

iii. Patnaik is currently serving as Additional Director in the Intelligence Bureau and he will continue to hold this post till his superannuation in 2018.

3. Cabinet approves the Revised Cost Estimate of Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project in Bhutan

i. The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has also given its approval for Revised Cost Estimate (RCE) of Rs. 7290.62 crore for the ongoing 1020 MW Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project (HEP) in Bhutan. 

ii. The Project will provide surplus power to India and thus augment power availability in the country and would enable project works to proceed smoothly without interruption. The total cost escalation for the project, at this stage, is Rs.3512.82 crore.

4. Theresa May takes over as Britain's Brexit PM, appoints Boris Johnson as Foreign Secretary

i. British politician, Theresa May  became Prime Minister of United Kingdom (UK) after meeting Queen Elizabeth II. She succeeds David Cameron, who had resigned in the wake of Brexit referendum that ended his six-year-long stint as the Prime Minister of Britain. 

ii. Theresa May has made Boris Johnson, the former London mayor who led the Brexit campaign, foreign secretary in her new government.

iii. She became UK’s second-ever female Prime Minister after Margaret Thatcher (in office from 1979-1990). 

5. Emirates named world's best airline in 2016 Skytrax awards

i. According to a survey conducted by Skytrax, Emirates is the world's best airline for the year 2016. 

ii. The survey underscores the consistency of the quality service among the world's top carriers. The international airline Emirates based in Dubai has won the top honors at Skytrax World Airline Awards ceremony at the Farnborough International Airshow in England.

iii. The top 5 best airlines: Emirates (1st), Qatar Airways (2nd), Singapore Airlines (3rd), Cathay Pacific (4th), ANA All Nippon Airways (5th)

6. BSE introduces 'Paperless SIP'

i. Leading stock exchange BSE is introducing 'Paperless SIP' (systematic investment plans) that would allow mutual fund investors to make transactions through various modes of payments.

ii. The additional feature on BSE's mutual fund platform - StAR MF  - would allow MF distributors to register SIPs for their clients, who can pay SIP amounts through various modes.

iii. The new facility, to be launched, is available only for non-dematerialised transactions and for instalment of amount more than Rs 2 lakh. 

iv. Under the Paperless SIP facility, the investors would receive an e-mail for all the payment modes, including direct pay, nodal account, one-time mandate and cheque, after the SIP has been registered.

7. Cabinet approves revival of defunction Fertilizer Units in Gorakhpur, Sindri and Barauni

i. The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the revival of defunct Fertilizer Units in Gorakhpur, Sindri and Barauni.

ii. These include two closed urea units of Fertilizer Corporation India Limited (FCIL) at Sindri (Jharkhand) and Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh) and Barauni (Bihar) unit of Hindustan Fertilizers Corporation Limited (HFCL). 

8. Cabinet approves Official amendment to the Bill for change of name to “Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University”

i. The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has also given its ex-post facto approval for the Official amendment to the Rajendra Central Agricultural University Bill, 2015 for change of name from “Rajendra Central Agricultural University” to “Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University”.

ii. Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, situated in Pusa is to fulfill the desired goal and achieve excellence in teaching and produce the much-needed manpower educated in agriculture and allied sciences. 

iii. This would help in getting over the shortage of technical manpower and infrastructural facilities and would contribute to the development of agriculture, including animal husbandry, horticulture, and fisheries in the region.

9. HAL, Safran to set up support centre in India for helicopters

i. Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) and French firm Safran Helicopter Engines have agreed to establish a support centre in India for national and international rotorcraft customers. 

ii. An agreement was signed by DK Venkatesh, Director (Engg and R&D), HAL, and Bruno Even, CEO, Turbomeca, at the ongoing Farnborough International Airshow (July 11-17) in England.

iii. The new centre will provide MRO services for Safran TM333 and HAL Shakti engines that power HAL-built helicopters. Safran and HAL will provide their customers with services including optimised engine availability. 

10. Cabinet allocates Rs 12,000 crore to impart skill training to 1 crore people over next 4 years

i. The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) with an outlay of Rs.12000 crore to impart skilling to one crore people over the next 4 years (2016-2020). 

ii. The PMKVY will impart fresh training to 60 lakh youths and certify skills of 40 lakh persons acquired non-formally under the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). 

iii. The post placement support would be given directly to the beneficiaries through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). Skill training would be done based on industry-led standards aligned to the National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF). 

11. Indian-American Dr. Kinshuk named US university Dean

i. An Indian-American professor with a diverse set of academic experience in the field of science and technology has been named the dean of a leading U.S. university. Dr. Kinshuk

ii. He received his doctoral degree from De Montfort University in England, a master of science in mechanical computer aided engineering from Strathclyde University in Scotland and a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from University of Rajasthan in India.

12. Kerala launches ‘world’s first’ digital student incubator

i. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has launched SV.CO, purportedly world’s first digital student incubator, as a digital makeover of the Startup Village in Kochi.

ii. SV.CO will constitute the second phase of development of Startup Village and is designed to help thousands of college-goers make an early start in entrepreneurship, according to a spokesman.

iii. Startup Village is India’s first PPP model technology incubator and has supported more than 500 start-ups and helped create 3,000 jobs during its first phase 2012-15.